Fire detector and alarm.



No. 693,005. Patented Feb. l-l, I902.

- F. G. GASCHLIN.

mam-names AND ALARM.

(Application flied May 13, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. GASCHLIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF NINILSIXTEENTHS TO SIMON DAVIS AND MOSES DAVIS, OF SAN FRAN- CISCO, CALIFORNIA I FIRE DETECTOR AND ALARM.

SPEGIFICATION fOrming part of Letters Patent No. 693,003, dated February 11 1902.

I Application filed May 13, 1901; Serialllo. 60,009. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1 elasticity, and the other arm extends down- Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. GAsOH- wardly parallel with the first-named arm.

LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing I Both these arms have books or turned-up porin the city and county of San Francisco, State tions, as at 9, and these are drawn together 5 of California, have invented an Improvement and connected by the destructible strip 10, so

in Fire Detectors and Alarms; and I hereby that when thus connected the second arm of declare the following to be a full, clear, and the wire is kept out of contact with the plate exact description of the same. 6, with which the second binding-post is con- My invention relates to a device which I nected. This plate 6 is so situated with relato term a fire detector and alarm. tion to the first-named plate 5 that when the It consists of a device adapted to be secured spring-arm is released it will fly out and conat points in rooms, buildings, vessels, and tact with this plate 6, and thus complete an other structures which are liable to fires, electrical circuit through an alarm of any electrical contacts insulated from each other, suitable or desired description.

15 a spring, and destructible means for retain- When the device is set for use, the springing said spring normally away from one of arm is drawn toward the fixed one, and the said contacts, which contact is madeand the two are connected by the destructible plate circuit completed by the destruction of the 10, and thus retained in this position. This spring-retainer. plate may be of fusible metal or any other 20 It also comprises details of construction, suitable material. I prefer to make it of celwhich will be more fully explained by referluloid, which is easily ignited and destroyed ence to the accompanying drawings, in by contact with flame and is also readily sof- Whi011- tened by considerable heat, such as would be Figure 1 is a general view of my device. produced by a fire.

25 Fig. 2 shows the device with its cover re- The base and the attachments herein de- V F g- 3 is a Vertical Sec ion thIOUgh scribed are protected from injury by an inthe cover, showing the inside mechanism. closing cap or case 12,which fits over the base,

The object of my invention is to provide a and by means of screws or other fastenings means for detecting fires and for giving an the device is attached at any desired point. o alarm as soon as the fire is started. In order to enlarge the sphere of action of As here shown, A is a base, of any suitable these devices,1 have shown adestructible cord material. It is preferably made non-conductor fuse 13. This cord or fuse 13 is attached ing and may be of wood, gutta-percha, or to a loop or hook 14., formed upon the plate 5, other suitable material, having the back and extends down in close proximity to the 35 grooved or channeled, as shown at 2, to redestructible plate 10. This cord may have ceive and protect the conducting-wires 3, several branches extending out in difierent which lead through a suitable battery to an directions, so as to embrace a very consideralarm of any desired description. The ends able surface. The fuses are made of any maof these Wires are secured by binding posts or terial which will readily ignite. Such mate- 0 4o nuts, as at 4, the posts or screws passing rial is found in the market under the name through the base A from the rear to the front. of celluloid wire, and it may be inclosed in At the front they are connected, respectively, a spiral coil of wire, as at 15, which serves with plates 5and 6. The plate 5 has secured to protect it from injury or breakage, at the to it an elastic spring, as 7. As here shown, same time admitting free access of fire or 5 this spring is made with a coil or turn, heat to the fuse. The fuse may be otherwise through which the post or screw 4 passes, and protected, and it may, if desired,lead through the upper edge of the plate is shown upturned guiding loops or staples where changes of diand having a notch at 8, in which the uprectionare made or where it is desirable to. wardly-extending part of the wire lies, so as keep it out of actual contact with walls or I00 50 to steady it. The upper portion of the wire surfaces.

has a turn or'coil which gives it sufficient The inclosing casing or guard for-the apparatus may be perforated with slits or openings, through which the interior can be seen, but which will serve to keep out mice or vermin and protect the destructible strip or plate from injury.

The operation would then be as follows: Fire occurring anywhere within reach of either of the fuses or near the device itself will be carried directly into the apparatus by the burning of the fuse, and as this is in close contact with the strip or plate 10 the latter will be destroyed or so softened that the tension of the spring will break it. The spring then expands and makes an electrical contact and circuit between the posts 4, and thus through the wires 3 to the alarm.

The spiral wire or equivalent inclosure for the fuse serves, in addition to the protection afforded, to regulate the rate of burning and prevent too rapid combustion or the breaking of the fuse while burning. If by accident the fuse should be broken or separated, the spiral or inclosnre will still hold the parts near together, so that fire could be communicated between them. In passing through walls, beneath work-benches, and under similar conditions the inclosure for the fuse may be a properly-supported tube, as at 16, having an open slot on the outside to admit fire or regulate the burning, while affording complete protection. Holes made through the tube at any desired point allow branches of the fuse to connect with the main portion, as before described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fire detector and alarm including a normally broken electrical circuit, a spring bent or returned substantially upon itself to form two arms one of which is normally connected to a contact, and the other is movable said movable arm adapted to be drawn toward the fixed arm, and a destructible strip connected to both arms and holding the movable arm normally away from its contact.

2. A fire detector and alarm, consisting of an insulating-base with bindingposts and contacts, a spring bent at its central portion to form two arms one of which is fixed to one h of said contacts and the other is movable, and a destructible strip extending from the extremity of one arm to the other, and holding thetmovable arm normally away from its con- -tac 3. A fire detector and alarm consisting of an insulating-base, separated contact-plates fixed thereto, binding-posts for connecting of electrical conducting-wires, a spring consisting of a strip coiled at its center and returned substantially upon itself to form two arms, one of which is secured to one of the contactplates, upturned ends to the arms, a destructible strip engaging the upturned ends of the arms and connecting said ends when the other arm has been drawn away from its contact-plate.

4. A fire detector and alarm, consisting of an insulating-base, separated contact-plates and electrical connections carried thereby, a two-armed elastic spring, one portion of which is fixed to one of the contact-plates, and both arms having upturned ends, a destructible strip connecting said upturned ends and disconnecting a movable arm normally away from its contact-plate, an ignitible fuse or cord, and means for attaching it contiguous to the destructible strip, said fuse extending outside of the device.

5. A fire detector and alarm, consisting of an insulating-base, contact-plates and electrical connections secured thereto, a twoarnled spring, means by which one of said arms is secured to one of the contacts, a destructible strip, and means for connecting it with the spring-arms whereby the second arm is normally held away from its contact-plate, a hook formed upon the first-named contactplate, contiguous to the destructible strip, an ignitible fuse or cord attached to said hook, extending away from the device, and having branches divergent from each other.

6. A fire detector and alarm, consisting of an insulated base, contact-plates and electrical connections carried thereon, a spring attached to one of said plates having an elastic arm adapted to form contact with the other of said plates, a destructible strip by which said arm is normally retained out of contact with its plate, means for incoming fire or heat to destroy said strip, and an inclosing perforated casing by which the device is covered and protected from injury.

h In witness whereof I have hereunto set my and.

FREDERICK G. GASOHLIN.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, JESSIE O. BRODIE. 

